Max Girardo came to RM Auctions five years ago, having previously started his classic car career at Brooklands (now a part of Bonhams). By the time he left, he had risen to the position of Director of Bonhams Europe S.A.
| It's not just a job... Q&A session with Max Girardo of RM Auctions |
He opened RM's first European branch, and has since held unprecedented sales including the remarkable Ferrari: Leggenda e Passione auctions held at the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello and a series of amazing sales in London with a number of records broken.
His skills as an auctioneer in Europe are greatly enhanced by his ability to speak English, French, Italian and Spanish fluently.
Girardo's is most excited by Ferraris of the 1950s and '60s, and one of his most memorable sales was that of a Ferrari GTO. He also enjoyed selling a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta for €3.36m earlier this year.
Aside from the Ferraris, his favourite sale was probably that of a 1997 McLaren F1 car for a world record price of $4,045,000. He enthused:
"Offering the McLaren in London was particularly special for me for a couple reasons. Early in my career, in fact, at my second auction ever, we offered a McLaren. I got to drive it, which was very exciting for me.
"The sale of this McLaren ten years later was thrilling because of the spirited bidding in the audience, and the fact that it led to a world record result."
Though Girardo often gets to drive these fantastic cars, the one he uses regularly is a very fine Porsche 911 - or sometimes a bicycle. Sometimes he races others, taking part in rallies - often with his father.
As for advice for new classic car collectors, Girard keeps it simple: "No matter what anyone tells you, buy what you love".
